What is Alpha Lipoic Acid?

Amidst the plethora of nutrients and supplements on the market today, you’re probably missing some of the essential ones that our bodies need every single day. Let’s talk about alpha lipoic acid for a moment and exactly what it means for your body. The first thing we want to say is that this is an antioxidant that can be found in two different places: in foods, and in our bodies.

That’s right, there are several alpha lipoic acid foods out there, which we will get into later on. There are many reasons for you consider taking this supplement, not the least of which is relief from certain types of nerve damage, and the potential for help with type 2 diabetes.

A Closer Look

So why do people consume alpha lipoic acid exactly? We mentioned before that it does well with those who suffer from type 2 diabetes, and there have been quite a few studies which revealed it can help improve insulin resistance. Additionally, it can help to reduce the following symptoms, which are often found to be a side effect of type 2 diabetes:

Pain

Tingling

Prickling

The aforementioned symptoms often make themselves prevalent in the legs, which is very common for diabetes. One important thing that we would say, however, is that this is not a definitive fix-all for diabetes or cancer. Yes, it does a great job of addressing these conditions, but you’re still going to need to make sure that you are under the of a physician – it’s just common sense.

Alleviating Symptoms of Dementia

The onset of dementia is something that many senior citizens worry about, and while it can be a quick downhill progression, there are still a few things that can be done about it. There is some evidence right now that the use of alpha-lipoic acid can actually be very beneficial over the long term in staving off those symptoms. None of this has been proven, of course, and in lieu of more research, we strongly recommend sticking with the medication regimen suggested and prescribed by your doctor. Still, as a supplement, it has proven to be quite beneficial.

Skin Benefits

There has been some further evidence that alpha-lipoic acid can help to reduce the damage done to the skin by aging, which may very well make it a suitable replacement for skin creams and even other supplements aimed at alleviating the aging problem. This is not to say that it is going to be an end-all, be-all solution, but with more research, it could, in fact, be an acceptable solution.

Other Conditions

There are of course conditions other than the ones that we have mentioned above, each of which can potentially be addressed by alpha-lipoic acid. Some of the other conditions that we failed to mention include:

Glaucoma

Amanita Mushroom Poisoning

Kidney Disease

Migraines

Peripheral Arterial Disease

While there is no clear evidence that these can be helped with alpha-lipoic acid, once again, the research is pretty promising, so we could definitely see some positive results and even studies in the future.

Figuring Out How Much to Take

Alpha-lipoic acid is an unproven treatment, and with that being the case there are plenty of discrepancies over how much you should actually take. There isn’t an established dose, but there have been studies that state you should stick to about 600 to 1200 milligrams per day assuming you are treating diabetes and neuropathy. Other studies have shown different numbers, and there are also those that encourage intravenous use over oral. In the end, it’s up to you, just know that there are plenty of differing opinions out there.